teaching souls through the written word

Getting back to the original

Restoring old paintings, automobiles, or houses is a labor of love.

In restoration there has to be a standard to give direction to the project. The standard is, of course, the original condition. Often it takes considerable research to determine what the original condition was.

A biblical example

Restoration is also a vital biblical principle. The Old Testament gives accounts of several restorations—especially in the days of Hezekiah and Josiah, kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 29-30, 34-35).

In both cases God’s people had drifted far from the original plan revealed by God to Moses centuries before.

A most unusual thing happened during Josiah’s reign. As the temple was undergoing restoration, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the Law. Judging from Josiah’s reaction when it was read, we could conclude that he had never heard it before.

“Then the king . . . made a covenant before the LORD . . . to perform the words of the covenant written in this book . . . . Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 34:31, 33).

Josiah has left a noble example for us today. Restoration requires diligent study followed by application of what one learns. In the process those who dedicate themselves to do only what the New Testament teaches may make some remarkable discoveries.

Whether it is how we worship, how the church is organized, or what is taught—all of this must bear the scrutiny of examination. Truth-seekers may find that certain venerated practices they have taken for granted are in fact of human rather than divine origin.

Satan has influenced the introduction of many additions to the original plan Christ gave for His church. The best way to counter Satan’s efforts is to go back to the Bible!

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2 thoughts on “Restoration: The Glory and the Challenge”

AlexJanuary 20, 2018 / 7:30 pm

You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I to find this matter to be actually one thing which I think I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely large for me. I’m looking ahead in your subsequent put up, I’ll try to get the grasp of it!

Thanks, Alex, for your thoughts! I did not mean to make restoration sound easy, because it isn’t. However, it is doable, because we have examples of such in the Old Testament. Let me give more thought to this and do a post soon that will address it more fully. Best wishes!